Vote for N.A.R.B in the Independent Book Blogger Awards!

*seductive eyes, smokey voice*

"Why, hello Blog followers..."

LOL! Ok, so maybe trying to seduce you guys won't work, but seriously bookies, I need your help! 

I've entered this blog in the Independent Book Blogger Awards contest sponsored by The Association of American Publishers Trade Division and Goodreads.

The blog is coming up on its 2nd birthday on Saturday and I hope that over the past two years it has become clear that I love books and review from the heart. Hopefully, if you've stuck around with me this long, I've done something right-ish and I appreciate the support!

With over 800 entrants in the 4 different categories, every vote counts! So if you enjoy the content on this blog and have a Goodreads account (its free and easy to make if you haven't got one already) I'd LOVE it if you could take a second to vote for this blog in the Adult Fiction>Romance catagory! Also, take an opportunity to check out some of the other blogs that have entered! I've already found and subsequently followed 3-4 just by peeking at the competition!

Voting starts Today, April 10th and runs until Monday, April 23rd
Click the button below to vote!

Vote for this blog for the
Independent Book
Blogger Awards!

Vote

Click the sexy man...you know you want to!

And if my seduction earlier really didn't work on you, how about an endorsement from my future husband?:

Thanks again for all the support and I look forward to bringing you guys many more years of cooky reviews, fun interviews, unique blog events, giveaways, and more!

Happy Valentine's Day (or Singles Awareness Day)

So, I guess I'll be a good sport and wish all you out there a lovely Valentine's Day. Whether you have a 'special someone' or just yourself to entertain.
There's no one special for me this year (join my pity party =/ ), but I've got my eye on some delicious chocolates from a local confectioner and a great read waiting for me once I get home from classes.

My (almost) Pulitzer Prize worthy contribution to the literary world: A Grocery List =P

Cover Art provided by Van Gogh

I am a writer now, yall!
Like plenty of other bloggers, I enjoy writing just as much as I enjoy reading. Of course I've entertained the dream of having a book with my name on it flying off the shelves that I frequent, or a page of latest releases on amazon.com. Not that I use one (blogging) as a means to the other (writing)- I never talk about any WIPs or things on here. I use this blog as a soap box to contribute to the romance reading community; To give my honest opinion of what I think of a book. I try to give a sum up, some good and bad, likes and dislikes- the whole bit. And if a book is worthy of praise like 'damn near perfect', it'll get it. Not because the author thinks so, but because I do. People can say whatever they want about my reviews. Don't like them? don't read or solicit them.

Gaelen Foley's Pre-Launch Event over at Avon Romance Blog

   The stellar Gaelen Foley has a new book coming out in July (or technically this month), 'My Dangerous Duke', as featured in the Anticipated Releases: June 2010 post. The official release date is June 29th, 2010, but being so close to the month of July, it is considered a July release. And being the day after my birthday and the day of my beloved grandmother's birthday, you should already know my immediate activities for the following week: Buy cravel b-day cake, eat to my hearts content, sleep off the fatigue, Find bookstore, get 2 copies of this book (a present for myself and granny), read away.....rinse, lather, repeat =D

   Over at Avon Romance Blog, she is hosting an event to celebrate the upcoming release of her book. Ofcourse, me being the late-linda that I am, I should have alerted you guys to the event when it started (yesterday). But it's not to late to join in on all the fun. Comment on the day's post and you are automatically entered for a chance to win a signed copy of her book or that of one of her special guests (also amazing authors with releases coming soon).

Book Trailer:
                                       

So what in blazes are you waiting for? Head on over to Avon Romance Blog , go to today's post in the event and comment your answer to her most pressing question: If someone were to give you a hottie of the opposite sex, who would you want to be given, and what’s the first thing you’d make him do, hmm? 

My Pick Would Be: The delicious Sam Worthington. He was in the movie 'Clash of the Titans' and I fell in love! He is so gorgeous, it's no wonder that the overly-chaste quality of the film had me crying foul. I mean, this was a movie based on ancient Greek Mythology (a favorite topic of mine). Where was the passionate, raunchy, somewhat disturbing sensual adventure?
   Still, the eye candy was pleasing enough, and if Santa were crazy enough to leave this man on my doorstep, there would be no more Christmas, for I would have done some unspeakable things to Sam and Santa would be taken under police custody for aiding and abetting ;)

5 Memorable Quotes

-"Some guys loved a woman only as long as loving her was easy." from 'My Sunshine' by Cathrine Anderson, pg.

-"Any man," she muttered, "who wanted to marry into the Hathaway family after this should be shut away in an institution"
"'Marriage is an institution" he said reasonably" -from 'Mine till Midnight' by:Lisa Kleypas, pg 339

-"Uncomfortably she announced, "I'm sorry,I didn't mean to pry." he replied "Of course you did. It's human nature to pry"'-from 'Home For The Holidays' by Johanna Lindsey; pg.29

-"But then she met his eyes, and it was there, the promise of what could have been, and what could be, if she'd just let it happen."-from 'A Loving Scoundrel' by Johanna Lindsey; pg.206

-"Every touch was exquisite torture"-from 'It Happened One Autumn' by Lisa Kleypas; back cover

From The Poetry Vault...

While reading a book of poetry ('The World's Favorite Love Poems' edited by Suheil Bushrui) I came across a poem I just had to share. I love poetry, and if I stumble upon a particular poem that speaks to my feminine sensibilities, I'll make sure to post it in this new addition to the blog- 'From The Poetry Vault...'



Diarmad O'Curnain
Love's Despair
-translated from Gaelic (Irish origins) by George Sigerson

I know not the night from day,

   Nor thrush from cuckoo gray

Nor cloud from the sun that shines above thee-

   Nor freezing cold from heat

   Nor friend-if friend I meet-

I but know-heart's love!-I love thee

   Love that my Life began,

   Love, that will close life's span,

Love that grows ever by love-giving:

   Love,from the first to last

   Love, till all life be passed,

Love that loves on after living!

I do it all for you (and the love of a good book)

   Just a tiny disclaimer: Yes, that IS a hello kitty comforter on my bed. LOL!
   Just giving you guys a look at what I've got going on on the book front. About half of these have been read/reviewed, but I still have to finish the lot before I can return them to the library and get a fresh 'stack'.
   I refer to the following term a lot, but for an accurate definition:

Reading Queue (Ree-Ding-Kuew): A line-up of recently 'check-out' books from the library (or newly purchased books) that are meticulously arranged and placed atop an extra television (which is much larger than the one I use now, but I am too lazy to buy a universal remote to get this one working again; it's called convenience!) in the order I wish to read them.

I useually take home a stack of books, checking-out around 4-8 at a time. Since I have this neat, little blog, I'll probably be reviewing every book I aquire.
I love the idea of a reading queue because it lays out exactly what and when I should read something from my always stocked 'tv top bookshelf'. It's set up in a way that's probably confuseing to others, but mysteriously practical to me.

There is a rhyme to my reason. I am just weirdly efficent like this.


Until Next Post<3...

My First Romance [novel]

My story. Your story. Our Story! Blogs bring people of a common interest, purpose or preference together in one place. The bond that connects me with all of you is my addiction to romance novels. But Julia Quinn didn't just knock on my door and say "Here, fall in love with my Bridgerton series." So how did it all come about? I know I have my story and I will attempt to paraphrase it below, but what about you? Have you ever thought about how you got to this point? Of hyperventilating in Barnes and Noble because they have a copy of 'Gentle Rouge' by Johanna Lindsey? Well we all have our beginning (and in the comments below, feel free to share yours). Here's mine.

   Before I get to romances I should really back track and talk about my relationships with books in general. I admit to a certain hate-loath relationship with books since pre-adolescents and on. Literally, I NEVER read a book for leisure, let alone a 23 chapter novel with words like 'beget' and 'beleaguer' and a score of other 'be-'s in them. T.V was a sanctuary and my Sony Viao laptop was my chapel. So how did I get to the point of leaving my local libraries (yes, I frequently visit more than one in a single day) with stacks of 5 or more books every other week?
  Well, it started with a sale at K-mart. For 30 bucks I could purchase a box set of the first five Harry Potter books. Before I cracked the spine, I just saw a deal/steal, but after...it became something more.
  To be honest, I didn't really read any of them. I just got them to have them and because I enjoyed the movies so much; But me being the stickler that I am, I had to complete the set! So I purchased Half-Blood Prince about 2 years after and THAT really got the key in the ignition. After finishing that one, I naturally had to read the last one. It took me about 3 months to finish each (I would read a page here and chapter there).
   Fast forward to the start of my Senior year of H.S. and this is where my story really picks up. A September assignment I thought I would hate; Read a whole chapter book within the month and prepare for various tests and essays all year long.
   Long story short; I opened the book during 7th period that day and finished it by 11pm that night. The book was called 'Snitch' by Allison Van Diepen, and was the first book I finished in a day that literally enthralled me.
  After seeing how enraptured a book could make me, I wanted to see if that interest could be repeated again and again. After some online perusal; for what? I didn't exactly know; I narrowed down my search to the English-Regency Romance category (at an early age I had a fascination with England I couldn't explain and for some reason I never out grew it). Tasha Alexander's titles held my interest and I soon found myself visiting the library down the street from my house and walking away with (my first library card and) 'And only to Deceive' by Tasha Alexander.
    Subsequently, it took a few days to find my groove, but I ended up finishing the book within the week and visiting another library to check out 'Mine till Midnight' by Lisa Kleypas and 'A Rouge of My Own' by Johanna Lindsey.
    The rest is history and here we are; months later and at least a hundred books read and returned.

Will this addiction ever abate? Probably not, because there are thousands upon thousands of novels and authors I have yet to discover....but at least, now you see where it began for me. I am excited to see where my journey with books lead me and to share my findings with all of you!

Until Next Post <3........

I am But Only A Mere Human!!!!!!

Hello my lovelies,
My apologies for my inferior breeding. I am only human, and thus, can't show this blog the 24/7 attention I would like. But a girls' gotta eat!! (and sleep, and read romances to review, and pass calculus...and occasionally refill that bubble bath!). But in all seriousness, I would love to post something new everyday and add more and more content, so that whenever your whims influence you, you can click on this page and read something fresh and new. I hate the blogs that are so good, but take super long to add new content. Realizing I have more of a life than I thought I did, I can truly sympathize now. No worries. I will work my hardest to bring you your regular dose of 'the freshness' and keep you entertained!!!

and just because I had to do it: " ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?!"

working on a few new post and the Sunday updating of 'Recommendation of the week'..... hmmm, what should I suggested this time.....